Kirstin's Better---so am I

In the intervening time since I last wrote, Kirstin improved to the point she was able to go home. Since then she has continued to improve. There are still some medical concerns about any lasting effects from the meningitis, especially to her hearing. A couple of tests were done this week, but I haven't heard what, if any, definite results were achieved. Also, in injuries such as she sustained, there may be the need for an operation at a later time to repair a fissure in a bone to prevent the recurrence of meningitis.

As for me, in that same period of time, I got down. I preached one Sunday morning in English as I was just coming down with the flu and didn't have time to get someone to cover for me. I was able to get a brother to fill in for the Portuguese services, and I went home in the afternoon and stayed there a whole week. I didn't go to the Consulate...did nothing but stay at home and read whenever I felt up to it. I couldn't even sit at the computer for more than an hour at most in the morning, checking e-mails, and doing the minimum of correspondence. I was at church last Sunday, but I had already got others lined up to preach, just in case. So I went and enjoyed hearing someone else preach. Tomorrow I'm back on full duty in the pulpit, Lord willing.

I'm better enough to feel like working, but I can tell I'm not back to 100%. Abbie, fortunately, has avoided getting the bug. I know she's glad of that, but so am I!

Kirstin

In the week and a half since I last wrote, Kirstin improved to the point she could go home on Monday. The doctors say she'll fully recover, but what they don't know yet is whether she'll have to have an operation to repair a hole in a bone to prevent her getting meningitis some time in the future. She's at home, in a room to herself, to minimize the risk of catching something from the others in the family. On Monday she was being moved from an isolation booth to a room shared with another child. It made more sense to be at home and try to control contagion than to have her in the hospital with another sick child or, perhaps worse, exposure to those who come to visit.

At the moment, there's no lack of opportunity to catch a cold or the flu. There's been a lot of it since before Christmas, and most of the families of the church have been affected to some degree or another. In some cases, the symptoms go on for weeks and weeks. Until now, Abbie and I have escaped unaffected; correction, UNTIL YESTERDAY we escaped unaffected. Abbie thought a few days ago she might have been starting a cough, but she hasn't gotten any worse. Yesterday, towards the end of the day, I felt a head congestion coming on...sinuses inflammed, etc. As the day wore on today, I have worn down myself. There are all the signs of one of those bouts with sinusitis I get every few years, and it means having to sleep in a recliner. The cough that accompanies it is the real bother. I pray this round is light and short. In fact, today would be enough, as far as I'm concerned.

Kirstin-- Andrea's post at about midnight

I spent the day with my precious baby again today. As Kristjan said we talked to the Dr. in charge of the floor and he said if she persisted with fever today they would start doing tests (mainly CT scan again) tomorrow. He acted like he was doing all the things on the list where in fact they are only doing a small amount of basic things (anibiotics, pain meds when needed, checking fluids etc.) I saw the Dr. that was assigned to her on that floor and she was abrupt and brushed off my concerns. I am really concerned about this.

I spent all day with Kirstin and with the Nurses coming in and out and children screaming down the halls, she just does not sleep well. After the lower temp in the afternoon Kirstin's temp has continued to rise again and even with medication has not gone down past 100. She had to take medication at 4 p.m. and again at 10 p.m. We are very very concerned about the fact that the fever stays even with strong medication. This is a possible sign of a secondary issue that she might have.

On an encouraging note....I saw some progress with Kirstin today that made me cry. She tried to smile at me probably twice. After a week with no smile this was so precious. She also began making some sounds more like "maaaaa" and other grunting noises. Until this point she either cried or made sounds that showed she was in pain and having difficulty breathing. The other thing was I held her several times today to help her change position. Her little legs shake when they are in certain positions because they are so weak.

Another positive is that I really like the nurses....they were kind, answered questions and did what they could to help us feel comfortable. They are busy and understaffed but nice people. Even nurses from the ICU came to visit her yesterday and today. Kirstin is totally traumatized....if any person comes close to her she starts to cry. I cannot even write here all the things she has had to go through....I even try to not think about it cause it just breaks my heart. Right now she has two catheters....one for urine and one to inject the antibiotics and take blood etc. This one is in her upper thigh. Basically this means anytime she has had dirty diapers that all these things get dirty and bandages need to be changed. A simple thing like changing a diaper becomes a big ordeal...like 30 minutes of nonstop crying. Her skin is raw and this has become a very traumatic event. She looks at me with insecurity like "mama please do something."

Here are some prayers request at this point:
1) That her fever would die down during the night so that we would not have to put her through yet more tests.
2) That her body would fight this disease and that the antibiotics would help and do no other harm to her body (kidneys etc.)
3) That she would be able to sleep so that she can get stronger.
4) That if we need to do these tests tomorrow that they would be thorough to really try to find the source of this fever. That they would be willing to run all the tests necessary.
5) That we could be reassigned a new doctor that would be more thorough and caring.
6) For strength to endure the long hours and decision making of every moment of the day.
7) For Kirstin to feel loved, cared for and secure in the midst of all this.
8) Also pray that Kristjan or myself can get Kaija to a dentist tomorrow as she is crying in pain tonight with a cavity.

We are resting our hope fully upon the grace hat is in Christ Jesus. Even this cannot separate us from His love. We are thankful for His tender mercies that renew every morning. We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. All things work together for good to those who love God and to those who are called according to His purpose. May God be glorified through all this!